Casket and hardware therefor



1.. L. ROGERS 21,885 CASKET AND HA RDWARE THEREFOR Filed March 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIII/IIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II, I

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June 28, 1938.

L. L. ROGERS CASKET AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Filed March 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm Zum'as l 60 846.

Zl 2| 7 I 15 6 ee I CASKET AND HARDWARE THEREFOR I LuniasLl RogersQHouston, Tex.

1 Application March 10,

.- 3 class. (01416-412) The'invention relates to an improvementin caskets, and particularlyofthe type which will resist corrosionandprovide a dead air space between the casket walls to prevent decay.

I It is oneof'the objects of the invention to pro-' vide removable hardware-for the casket so that the cost of the casket will be materially reduced because the hardware peatedly used.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a removable handle construction for caskets wherein a base-member is. interengageable with projecting lugs on the casket, and the handle when in carrying position serves :to latchthe'construction to the casket.

Another object of the invention is to provide'a casket to which the handle may be attached when the casket is to be used,and removed therefrom as soon as the transportation of the casket has 7 been completed. 7

It is also an object of the invention to provide akset-of handles which may be attached or' removed'from the casket by'movement of the'han- 'dle with'respect'to its supporting structure. It is also an object of the inventionto provide a casket having a plurality of dead. air spaces sealed thereinl" Q a Another objectof the invention is to provide a casket having a triple wallwith a flashing extending from the center wall to thelinner wall and then outwardly to the. exterior in order to form a complete seal-at the top of the walls.

A still further object. of the invention'is. to provide a casket having a centralmetallic wall 51 and'inner and outer fiber walls which are sprayed with a metallic coating.

Other and further objectsof the invention will be read ly apparent when the following descrip-* tion is considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view takenhon the line l l of Fig. 2 and looking in the directionofthe arrows.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of a casket constructed in accordance with the invention and showing one cornerthereof broken away to'illustrate the internal construction. V

Fig. 3 is abroken detailed. side elevation of one of the handles attached to 'thecasket.

Fig. l is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of'Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows. p

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the casket with the handles removed.

I "The casketis made up of abody which is shown may be removed and re- 1934, Serial No. 714,903

in Fig; 1 as composed of a central m'etallicira'me or box 2. This box will'serve as the foundationupon which the remainder of the casket is built: Positioned inside of this box 2 will be a plurality of transversespacers 3 which may be spaced vertically as desired. Similar spacers 4 will extend laterallyacross the base 50f the box 2, and sup? porting blocks 6, of the same thickness as the spacers 3 and 4 will cooperate with the spacers in spacing the inner wall or liner 8 from the box 2. This liner 8 is preferably made of wood or other suitable fiber and is spaced at the top from the box by the rib I0. The entire arrangement so that the-air space H would be divided by the metal box and the inner wall. The exterior wall is indicatedat l5 and is spaced from the box 2 by the spacers l6 and the blocks "in .a manner similar to the spacing of the innerwalh. In this manner the dead'air space I8 is provided. It"

shouldbe particularly noted that the spacers-are provided with air passages I9 so that there may be a circulation of airthroughout each of the spaces H and I6. This construction is provided so that if moisture accumulates in one of the compartments between adjacent fistuds this moisture may be diffused through the entire air space so that it will be subject to a greater evap'oration, and will not serve to decay any particular portion ofthe casket. The externalwall I5 is preferably made of wood or other fiber and may be sprayed with the liquid metal the same as described in connection with the inner wall 8; .With' a sprayed metal finish of this sort any desired color or decorative finish may be obtained and a neat andpleasingappearance is possible with a more or less cheap construction of casket.

If desired the walls 8 and [5 may be made entirely' of metal to obtain a triple walledmetal casket. When the metal is sprayed on the fiber foundation to a suitable thickness, it will serve the same as a metal wall even though the fiber should decay. A

The'external wall l5serves to carry the usual moldings 20 and'2l and also serves to support 1 the top 22 and the cap 23. The cap 23 is shown as being made up with spaced walls 24 and25 to be obtained, the gasket being held in position by a holddown flange 30.

In order that a complete seal will be had at the top of the walls2,--8, and I 5, a flashing or seal 32 is provided. This seal has oneredge attached to the inner face of the upstanding wall of the box 2, as at 33. From this wall the flashing extends inwardly to the point 34 where it is connected with the inner wall 8 andi sthen reversely bent upwardly and backwardlytmencompass the crown 35 and finally engages the outer wall l5 as at 36. A shoulder 3Tis-rp'rovided to'receive' the gasket 30 so that when this constructionis applied and fixed in position the spaces II and I8 willirbeicompletelyisealed. Thetconstruction just descrlbed'has.beenr-appliedto. the side view of Figal'but theend section,s:as illustrated in Fig.

2,1 issconstructe'd 1 in precisely the :same manner. The 'outer -walls 15 .aresupportedon abase or bottom plate 39, 'whichalso carries the moldings zlkand the'spacers.l6sand ll. fI'his'base orlbottom 39 issealedtOttheouter wall 515,. so as to 'serve thasame .purposeesthefside walls in divid- ;:ing-the air." space 8.

With thecaskets now-in general use the hardware isqaermanentlyi'fixedto the 'casket and be comesr'azpart thereofsso'that when the casketis buried :the hardware is lburied with it. 7

The present invention contemplates a type of hardware to"be-used'rrepeatedly in that it may beratta'ched 'to' thecasket when the. casket is to be used *and detachedsat the '*time the casketis buried. ."I'his-will result in 'a material saving in the costof the casket'because but -a'smallfrac- 'tion of the costof the hardware may be added to-the actual costof the casket without the hardware -;and the hardware can be repeatedly used. It is to be understood that -the caskets'will be made up 'less thehardware and the purchaser may then determine what-style of hardware is desired and the undertaker may then use that type ef-hardware so'that -any desired type of hardware maybe-used with'any casketand the variety: of caskets and hardware which' will rhave to 'be carried by each undertaker will be "mate- 'rially reduced andthe'costof thecaskets willibe muchl-less'than when'the hardware is permanentlyzfixedto: thecasket. With this inmindpattentionis direote'dto Fig's. 3, 4, .and 5.

':Fig."5 'showsia bottom lug: 50 which is. attached to the ;wall. of the: casketv by screws. I. .This lug is'zseeninqsection.irIFlg. 4sand includes an .up-

standingjlipe52. whichdeflnes a recess '53. The

upper lug is indicatedat-55 and is attached to the casket-by-screws 55. This lug has-a downwardly and outwardly extending .flange .51, which is tapered at 581so thatit. may. be :readily engaged by Ithe; handle construction when the handle is to-nbe-appliedtothe casket.

The-handle construction may be made up "in individual units, such as-BO, and separatehandles applied to each-unit or: the handles maybe made up in a'complete set. of two,- three, or four, as desired. Fig.2 shows a set of the four-handle construction wherein the rod or bar 6| extends through eachhandle to provide a rail which may beusedto'carry-the-casket. .Figs. 3 and -4:show the handle with the bar 6| extending :therethrough; This bar 'maybezof a difierentdength than the entire casket and may in fact be but a small piece'extending through each of the handle constructions.

The handle construction is best seen in section in Fig. 4 and comprises a base 65 which is adapted to fit between the moldings 20 and 2| and is provided with an upper recess 66 and a lower recess 61. These recesses are of a size so that the base may be passed over the lugs 50 and 55. The base will-.be..attached totthe casket by inserting "the edge :69 of 'the.upper recess 66 beneath the flange 51. The tapered portion 58 serves to steer the base over the lug 50. In this manner the base is applied against the side wall oftheicasktzaridis held against removal so long as theglower edge 10 is positioned against the "moldingffllythe upper edge 69 being engaged underneath theflange 5'! of the upper lug.

Carried by the base 65 is an ornamental cap 12,-wh1ch may take any desired ornamental configuration, but serves thestructural purpose of supporting thezhandle l5. :Thiscap 12 carries a pivotshaft :16, upon which-;thehandle :15 is mounted. :A spring 11 serves to .normallyzhold" the handle in a horizontal position: as seen in Fig.

'4. ;.The handle 15 comprises the touteruend '18 holdsthe handle in latching position. When the casket is .to be lifted the-handle: isrgrasped and the finger 80 firmly engages the 'lip-.52-and.the weightof the:casket is then transmitted bythe base. The portion 83-.of the cap-ll-serves as a stop for l the :pivoting -movement of the handle so thatithe-entire weight of the-casketacan be lifted by the handles.

W'hennthe transportation of the oasket rhas been completed and it is to be lowerediinto-the grave it is onlynecessaryyfor:thevundertakerato depress the handle -15 .so .that the .toe.80 is -.dis-

enga ed from the lip; 52. handle and thetentiresbase may then be .moved outwardly andremoved fromthecasket, so that it.can .be.repeatedly used.

What .IcIaim. asnew. is: a i

- 1. A detachable handlemechanism. for. caskets, comprising an anchor platelfor securement tothe casket, a. handle supporting part comprising. a base .designed to. engage with the..casket andconstructed .witha recess forsaidanchor plate, .a pivotedhandle on saidn part, a latchingfingeron saidhandle designedfforf interengagement with said anchorplate to lock ,said handle andlsaid part in place when the handlelis. in carrying position, and resilient means associated with said handle for maintaining itv in carrying position.

A detachable handlefmechanism forcca'skets comprising" two lugs designedfor attachment to the casketinspaced vertical relation, the upper lug being formed with a downwardly .opening hook portion and. the lower. lug withanupwardly opening hook-portion, a; handle .supporting part comprising a base designe'd'to engage withthe casket and constructed with aI recess-forsaid lugs, said part being -designedto occupyappositionnin which the: hook zportioni-of said-.upperrlug .l'liis-zunlatches rthe.

. extends oversaid base, a handle pivoted in said part and designed to engage with said lower lug to maintain said part in the aforesaid position,

a latching finger, on said handle which is received in the hook portion of said lower lug to thereby lock said handle and said part to said casket when thehandle is in carrying position, and resilient means associated with said handle for holding it in carrying position.

3. A casket having upper and lowerlugs thereon, a handle construction including a base, recesses in said base to receive said lugs, a pivoted handle on said base, a latching finger on said handle and means urging the handle into carry-. mg position and said finger into latching engagement with one of said lugs to hold the base into engagement with the other of said lugs and lock the handle to the carrying position.

LUNIAS L. ROGERS. 

